This proposal is for the replacement of an
undistinguished 1930s house in a very special site, perched on the brow of a
steep wooded ridge overlooking the City Bath. The existing house peers
southwards through a veil of mature trees, over the city and on to the opposite
side of the Avon Valley. The house appears as a small dormer bungalow on the
north (public) side at the end of Richmond Green, but becomes a three storey
house from the South side due to the very steeply sloping site. As
a standalone building on the South side of the street, the site is more
woodland than street, and the language of the house seeks to respond to that
woodland edge situation.

The proposed house seeks to take full advantage
of the remarkable site. It will occupy the same footprint of the existing
house, cantilevering the bottom floor out on a pair of steel piloti.
The roof of the bottom floor forms a generous balcony for the main living floor
above, and the top floor in turn sails out over that, providing some shade
and protection to the glazed elevation.

The forms are a series of interlocking
rectangles, rotating away from the base to make a dynamic composition which
celebrates the potential of the site. The materials respond to the street on
one side – ashlar Bath Stone on a bath stone rubble base – and to the woodland
on the other side, with dark fibre cement boards overclad with vertical timber
battens, taking on the verticality and materiality of the surrounding trees.

Alterations started in May 2017. Wraxall Builders
Ltd are making great progress; the extensions to the Victorian Schoolhouse are
starting to take shape and the steel is almost fully erected.Click here for the project page

We have recently submitted a planning
application for a replacement dwelling in the Greenbelt. The site is in a
unique and beautiful setting with two very significant characteristics: It is
essentially an island surrounded by water on 3 sides and it is in a flood risk
area, currently the site is accessed by a brick bridge.

The proposed layout has a focal point at the Oak
tree close to the site entrance. This oak tree has a very important presence on
the setting, and is much older than the houses on the site. The house then
sweeps around the tree, using a radial grid with its centre point being
notionally the centre of the oak’s trunk. Internally, the house is divided by
private and more public areas. This division is expressed on the design by
separating the volumes related to each areas. Due to the flood risk the house
will be raised 800mm from the ground and suspended between masonry walls which
come all the way down to the ground. Two main materials are being proposed: Red
local limestone for the masonry walls and zinc cladding for the suspended
walls.Click here for the project page

In August Designscape completed a new office and
production facility for Exactaform Ltd, a precision tools manufacturer based in
Coventry. The practice were involved throughout the project, from early concept
to completion, working closely with Greswolde Construction Ltd and WIA
interiors to deliver a high quality facility that will allow for the expansion
of the company. Final fit-out works are ongoing and finished photographs will
be available soon.

The
proposal for the demolition of a single dwelling, and replacing it with a 6
apartment residential building, has been submitted recently for planning
approval. Located on the corner of 2 busy streets in Weymouth, the new building
aims to provide parking and accommodation for 6 two-bedroom dwellings. Each one
benefiting from outdoor spaces, storage areas and allocated parking. Issues
such as views, privacy and orientation were considered and addressed by
creating terraces and stepping the floors towards the main street. In terms of
materials, brick and zinc were the thought to best represent the character of
the area. A combination between pitched and flat roofs were proposed to respond
to the immediate context. Click here for the project page

Designscape
is proud to welcome James House and Livia Kilmaj as the newest additions to the team. James graduated from the University West of England, Bristol in July 2017 and was awarded First Class Honours in BSc Architecture. During his third and final year, James was nominated for the RIBA Bronze Medal.

Livia qualified as an Architect at Budapest University of Technology and Economics and spent one term on her final project as an Erasmus student at Universidad de Sevilla. She completed her postgraduate studies at Budapest UTE Dep. of Urbanism and the Hungarian Architects’ Association’s Master Course with work experience at Foldes & Petho Architects and MCXVI Architects in Budapest.Click here to view their full profiles

We’ve recently submitted planning
application for a rear single storey extension to a Listed Building in
Melksham. The building now known as “Paddock View” was formerly part of
Bowerhill Lodge Farm, and later on converted into 4 individual dwellings.

The main design
concept of the proposal is the idea of two masonry blocks joined by a higher
glazed link. These blocks follow a rhythm of pillars and recessed stone or
glazed panels.

A green roof is proposed for the masonry blocks,
with the ashlar stone continuing all the way to the parapet level.

Following
three pre-applications with the local authority, establishing a measured
approach to the replacement of the existing house and outbuildings onsite, we
submitted a planning application for a replacement dwelling within the
greenbelt. The application for a new 6 bedroom family home responds
sympathetically to the village setting using traditional materials and
referencing the character of the conservation area, while taking advantage of
the wider landscape by opening up towards the private South West views. Click here for the project page

Our project at Biddestone has now commenced on
site. The Victorian Schoolhouse was previously converted to residential by a
former owner.
Our design re-imagines the spaces within the house and with two new extensions
provides more appropriate living accommodation for our client.

We
were pleased to be shortlisted for the GAGA awards this year for our car port,
as part of the second phase works at Hardy House. The Galvanizers Association
have been recognising innovative use of galvanised steel by architects,
engineers & the construction industry for over 20 years.Click here for the project page

Here's a fly-through of the Equestrian House we designed back in 2016. The brief included a family house along with equestrian facilities suitable for either professional use or for a family with horses.Click here for the project page